Press Release: 02-04-2020

Kerala demands inter-State goods movement without restrictions

Thiruvananthapuram, April 02: Kerala Government today asked for unrestricted movement of essential goods through the inter-state borders. Kerala Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan has requested the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi for an assurance that inter-state goods movement would not be affected by the lockdown. “Neighbouring states should not create hurdles during this crisis period and all states should fight this pandemic together.” The Chief Minister made this demand during a video-conferencing with the Prime Minister today.

The Chief Minister also sought the intervention of the Central Government in ensuring the safety of the Malayalee workforce spread across the world. “Indian Embassies should provide assistance in setting up quarantine centres in respective countries which has a large number of Indian expatriates and especially nurses from Kerala. It is our duty to ensure their personal safety also”. He informed the PM about the status and steps taken to curb the spread of the virus in the State. “We have implemented all directives from the Central Government in this regard.” The CM demanded an increase in the borrowing capacity of the State from the current 3% to 5%. He also requested the PM to make the necessary transport arrangements for the migrant labourers to go back home after the lockdown period.

During his daily media briefing today, the CM disclosed the Central Health Secretary, who was present during the VC, appreciated the efforts of the State in keeping down the number of deaths due to Coronavirus infection and also, in controlling the outbreak of the pandemic in the State. The State Government has also requested the Centre for approving more testing centres in Kerala. Central assistance would also be required in bringing the rapid test kits from Hong Kong.

As suggested by the Prime Minister, all NCC cadets and NSS volunteers will be allowed to join the State’s Community Volunteer Force. Those who left NCC and NSS in the last five years will also be allowed to join.

21 fresh cases of Coronavirus infection were confirmed from various parts of Kerala today. Eight of the new cases from Kasargod District, five from Idukki District, two from Kollam District, and one each from Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Kannur districts. Nine of these fresh cases have been contracted through local (primary) contact with an affected person. The patient in Thrissur was someone who came back from Gujarat. Of the total 286 cases confirmed so far, 256 patients are under treatment in different hospitals in the State.

Overall, 1,65,934 persons are under observation throughout the State. Of these, 1,65,291 are under observation at their homes and the rest 643 under hospital observation. This includes two persons who returned after attending the Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin.

145 persons were hospitalised today. 8,456 samples were sent for testing and 7,622 have reported negative.

So far, 200 non-resident Keralaites who came from overseas back to the State, seven foreign nationals (tourists) and 76 persons who got the infection through primary contact are the confirmed cases. 28 patients including four foreigners have recovered completely and tested negative.

Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today disclosed that 157 persons from Kerala who attended the Tablighi Jamaat at the Nizamuddin Markaz has been identified and the government has collected details about them. All of them are under observation at home and few in hospitals. Some of them are yet to return from New Delhi.

Free ration distribution update

The distribution of free provisions through ration shops in Kerala which started yesterday had a good response today also. 13.61 lakh ration cardholders were given the food grains and other provisions today taking the total to 28.36 lakhs in two days. There were few issues regarding slow billing and the shortage of kerosene. Steps would be taken to address and sort out these issues, the CM announced. The distribution date has been extended till April 30,
2020

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About

Shri Pinarayi Vijayan has been elected in the 14th Kerala Legislative Assembly elections held on 16th May 2016 from Dharmadom constituency with a margin of 36,905 votes.
He is a member of the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Earlier he had served as Secretary of the Kerala State Committee of the CPI (M) from 1998 to 2015.